The Peninsula
Preparations to host the Fourth Round of the Qatar National Baja have been completed, the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) said yesterday. This will be the resumption of the incomplete 2020 season after motor sport activities were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic started sweeping the globe in March. The scrutineering session of bikes was held yesterday with riders going through the paces in Al Khor. The total distance of the fourth round is 142kms which will be divided into two stages, QMMF has confirmed.
The scrutineering of cars will be held today at QMMF headquarters in Lusail Sports Arena. The start lists of cars and bikes will also be issued today after the scrutineering session, according to the official program released by QMMF. The hugely popular two-day affair is being staged under MOPH guidelines issued to tackle any possible threat of COVID-19. A total of 13 drivers and 26 riders will participate in the fourth round. Yesterday, QMMF organised a theoretical navigation training course for riders featuring in the 4th round of the Qatar National Baja.
Tracking devices have been installed on all motorcycles participating in the fourth round. Top QMMF official Rashid Al Sulaiti said the racing fraternity is happy to resume off-road competitions after a long break. “There has been great interest from drivers and riders to resume competitions after so many months. This shows that QMMF’s keen interest in promoting local talent has been widely appreciated by racing fans in Qatar,” Al Sulaiti said yesterday. Al Sulaiti added: “The QMMF has also organized a theoretical navigation training course for the riders to educate the participants on route difficulties.
This was done in Al Khor so that riders know how to use the road book as a guide for navigation purposes.” The QMMF official said the participants have been well drilled about the safety procedures implemented to ward off potential COVID-19 threats during the competition. He said every effort is being made to ensure the safety of all those linked with the event whether as participants or as members of the local organising body. Ahmed Fahad Al Kuwari leads the championship with 48 points, one point ahead of Khaled Al Muhannadi, who is in second place with 47 points. Mubarak Al Hajri is in third spot with 40 points. Mohammed Al Meer (22 points), world champion in the T2 category, will also be seen in action tomorrow.